Curt von François

German cartographer and commissioner of German Southwest Africa, founder of Windhoek (1852-1931)

In the history of exploration, Curt von François is one of the names that keeps returning.

The record lists Curt von François as German cartographer and commissioner of German Southwest Africa, founder of Windhoek (1852-1931).

Curt von François was born at Luxembourg in 1852. His recorded nationality is Germany.

Nineteenth-century exploration turned inland - Africa, Asia and Australia - and was entangled from the start with empire, missions and the geographical societies that funded it.

He is recorded as explorer, politician and military officer.

Distance was the hardest problem of the pre-modern world, and it was solved by people willing to risk it.

Recognition followed: Iron Cross.

Curt von François died in 1931, aged 79. The routes and charts outlived the journey, which is how exploration is actually measured.

Achievements

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